The Peaceful Harvest

W. Carl Ketcherside

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     The writer of the letter to the Hebrews speaks of an honest life as a peaceful harvest. An honest life is one which does not recoil from nor tremble at the thought of scrutiny or examination from God or man. It is one in which the books are in balance and the accounts are in order. It appears the same color in the full glare of the sunlight as in the shadowy recesses of a room. Nothing is more conducive to peace and tranquillity than such a life. It enables one, like Longfellow's Village Blacksmith, to "look the whole world in the face, for he owes not any man.

     That such a life is called a harvest presupposes at least two things--sowing and cultivation. An honest life must begin with the seeds of honesty, that is, with the aim to walk uprightly before God and man. But it is with the cultivation that we are primarily interested at this time. The entire passage reads, "Discipline, no doubt, is never pleasant; at the time it seems painful, but in the end it yields for those who have been trained by it the peaceful harvest of an honest life" (Hebrews 12:11). It is implied that the upright life is not a voluntary growth, it does not grow wild.

     The process of cultivation is called discipline, and it is important that we note the expression "trained by it." It is unfortunate that the word "discipline" has come to have the connotation of punishment. We generally think of it as related to censure for some infraction of the law, or, at best, as a corrective measure applied in case of error. But the word means training. It is closely allied to disciple, a learner, and has to do with instruction given to develop a well-balanced life.

     A soldier undergoes discipline as certainly when he is taught to stand erect, to go through the manual of arms, or to salute his superiors, as when he is assigned to kitchen police duty for a minor disobedience or oversight. The record declares that "discipline is never pleasant." It is easier to slouch than to straighten up the back. "At the time it seems painful." It would seem more pleasant to lie in bed than to be on a forced march or on the drill field, but soldiers can only be made through discipline. And the value of training is seen when men are under fire from the enemy. Many an army has been saved from defeat by respect for the word of an officer, or by fear of breaking rank. Heroism in a crisis is often but a natural reaction resulting from proper training.

     There is a contrast between the expressions "at the time" and "in the end." All true discipline looks toward the future. It is never the end but always the means to the end. Training, for train-

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ing's sake, becomes a hardship and a bore. One cultivates, not because he likes to work in the field but because of the crop which results from his labor. The inconvenience, the denial of self, the sacrifice of present preference for future good, all of these are justifiable only because of the coming reward.

     All of this leads us to conclude that the approved life is "the disciplined life." Jesus declared, "He that will come after me must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Denial of self has to do with the negative phase of discipline, the daily resumption of the cross burden has to do with the positive side. Neither one is pleasant. Both seem painful at the time. But both are essential to the disciplined life. One should practice discipline to master his feelings and inclinations. Paul said, I run with a clear goal before me; I am a boxer who does not beat the air, I bruise my own body and make it know its master" (1 Cor. 9:26,27).

     If one is inclined to doze when he reads the scriptures in the evening he should fight sleep and resist the temptation to always lay the book down. A walk in the night air, a dash of cold water on the face--any justifiable measure to keep from giving in to self will be profitable. One who has formed the practice of sleeping late on the Lord's Day should set the alarm and rise early for study and meditation. Discipline is practical in the regulation of diet, in the overcoming of habits, in resistance to the appeals of desire and appetite. One who always gives in will find it easy to give up. He who does not stand for anything will soon fall for everything. One cannot be a soldier for Christ and keep his civilian status. "Come, then, stiffen your drooping arms and shaking knees and keep your steps from wavering" (Hebrews 12:13).